Mass (liturgy)

===Introductory rites===
[[File:Mass, St Mary's Basilica Bangalore.jpg|thumb|upright|A priest offering the Mass at [[St. Mary's Basilica, Bangalore|St Mary's Basilica]], Bangalore]]

The [[Priest (Catholic Church)|priest]] enters, with a [[deacon]] if there is one, and altar servers (who may act as [[crucifer]], candle-bearers and [[thurifer]]). The priest makes the [[sign of the cross]] with the people and formally greets them. Of the options offered for the Introductory Rites, that preferred by liturgists would bridge the praise of the opening hymn with the [[Gloria in excelsis Deo|Glory to God]] which follows.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litpress.org/Products/5788/The-New-Dictionary-of-Sacramental-Worship|title=New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship|last=Grigassy|first=Daniel|publisher=Liturgical Press|year=1991|isbn=9780814657881|location=Collegeville, MN|pages=944f}}</ref> The ''[[Kyrie eleison]]'' here has from early times been an acclamation of God's mercy.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litpress.org/Products/6021/The-Genius-of-the-Roman-Rite|title=The Genius of the Roman Rite|last=Pecklers|first=Keith|publisher=Liturgical Press|year=2010|isbn=9780814660218|location=Collegeville, MN}}</ref> The Penitential Act instituted by the [[Council of Trent]] is also still permitted here, with the caution that it should not turn the congregation in upon itself during these rites which are aimed at uniting those gathered as one praiseful congregation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sharing the Eucharist Bread: The Witness of the New Testament Xavier Leon-Dufour|last=Leon-Dufour |first=Xavier |publisher=Continuum |year=1988 |isbn=978-0225665321}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litpress.org/Products/5788/The-New-Dictionary-of-Sacramental-Worship|title=New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship|last=Weil|first=Louis|year=1991|isbn=9780814657881|location=Collegeville, MN |pages=949ff |publisher=Liturgical Press}}</ref> The Introductory Rites are brought to a close by the Collect Prayer.